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Dear Subscriber,
Widespread Outback rain over the past fortnight caused the closure of many roads and tracks. A number of the roads, particularly in the Flinders Ranges have re-opened and our trip to that area which was to have been on 4th of this month has been rescheduled to the 14th.
The Channel Country is one of the places which received record rainfalls and graziers there are celebrating because it will set them up for another bumper season. The largest report was 519mm at Kamaran Downs Station to the west of Bedourie, and Geoff Morton from Rosberth Station just east of Birdsville says the flood passing his property is the fourth in five years, and will make it an exceptional year. "We were already having a pretty good year, but this will change a good year into an exceptional year - you couldn't get better. "In the mornings when it is quiet if you listen closely enough, you can hear the cattle getting fat!" The Birdsville Track between Mungerannie and Birdsville is now open. However, an assessment continues of the condition of the southern section of the Track, mainly due to the flooding of Frome Creek. Some other outback roads across SA are starting to reopen as sunny weather dries them out. It will be great to see the country looking so good!
Cheers for now,
Howard |
Terowie on Anzac Day
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| The Terowie Citizens' Association Inc has written to ask if we would mention a special event planned in Terowie on Anzac Day.
A World War 1 Soldier's photographic collection
will be officially opened at the Pioneer Gallery,
followed by lunch at the Institute Supper Room.
The photographic collection, which has been held by the Terowie Citizens' Association Inc. since 1987 has been
faithfully restored and catalogued with financial assistance
from Department of Veteran's Affairs "Saluting Australia Programme" and the dedication of friends and members of The Terowie Citizens' Association Inc.
If you would like to attend this event, let me know and I will see if I can arrange transport.
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News from Cooper Creek
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| Julie at the Cooper Creek Homestay at Innamincka sent a newsletter (February) in which she describes an abundance of bird and animal life following rains in January.
It is interesting that one visitor who is normally seen in summer - the bush fly - is absent.
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Birdsville News
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A new pontoon has been opened on the shore of the Birdsville Billabong.  The aim of the project was to open up the billabong to locals and visitors alike. This will allow people to enjoy non-powered boating activities and to have organised water events as
it is a body of water that offers so much now it is accessible. Examples could include the world's desert swimming marathon or an inland surf boatrace. The Billabong is already used extensively by local residents and the annual raft race on New Years day is a key feature on the local calendar. It is also another attraction for visitors to the desert to bring their surf skis and other aquatic equipment to relax. There is also the possibility of forming a Diamantina Lifesaving Club and talk of a relationship with the Royal Lifesaving Association or aligning with a Queensland surf club. The Birdsville pontoon was officially opened in a brief ceremony on Sunday 19th February. Top of page
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Dingo Fence Damage
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Floodwater has washed away large sections of the Dog Fence in South Australia's north.
The fence stretches thousands of kilometres across the country and acts as a barrier to dingoes which are a declared pest in southern Australia.
Soggy conditions are restricting access for vehicles, meaning the fence might not be fixed for weeks.
Station owner and chairman of
the Marree Dog Fence Board,
Peter Litchfield, says it's bad news for sheep producers who
are already battling high numbers
of dingoes on their properties.
"We have a constant problem here, we've had 14 dingoes on our property inside the fence here
since the first of December," he said. "We average one a week."
Janet Brook from Cordillo Downs, in the state's far north-east, says dingoes have been spotted in packs of up to 16 and are attacking cattle."Previous years you might see dingoes in numbers of three or four but this year we're seeing them in groups of a dozen or 16 is the one I've personally seen in packs," she said.
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Birdsville Working Museum
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The Birdsville Working Museum officially closed on 20th September 2011.  At that time ABC Rural interviewed owner John Menzies about the museum and some of the items in it. If you missed the interview, with this true Outback Character, click on the following link- Audio:(mp3) ABC Rural : Interview with John Menzies |
Upcoming Personalised 4WD trips 2012
| | These trips are in a Toyota Landcruiser vehicle with a maximum of 4 passengers:
Itineraries 2012
The Gawler Ranges (5 days) $1575pp Friday March 30
Port Wakefield, Port Germein, Port Augusta, Iron Knob, Corunna, Siam, Nonning, Mt Ive, Lake Gairdner, Yardea, Hiltaba, Paney Station, The Organ Pipes, Pildappa Rock, Tcharkuldu Hill, Minnipa, Wudinna, Kimba, Wilmington, Melrose, Gladstone, The Clare Valley.
Lake Eyre (3 days) - $995pp
Includes Plane Flight!
Wednesday April 11
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, One and a half hour plane flight over Lake Eyre, Farina Ruins, Ochre Cliffs, Hawker, Orroroo, Terowie, Burra.  Back O'Bourke (9 days) - $3300 pp Saturday April 21Broken Hill, Mutawintji NP, White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Tilpa, Louth, Bourke
(accommodation Bourke Riverside Motel), Lightning Ridge, Gilgandra, Cobar, Balranald, Murrayville, Pinnaroo.
The Painted Desert
(9 days) - $3295pp
Saturday May 5
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, William Creek, Coober Pedy,
The Breakaways, Painted Desert, Woomera, Roxby Downs, Andamooka,
Port Augusta, Arid Lands Botanical Gardens, Horrock's Pass to the Flinders Ranges, Orroroo and Burra.
 Mungo and Hattah
Kulkyne
National Parks
(5 days) $1525
Saturday May 19
Pinnaroo, Kow Plains Homestead and Cowangie, Murrayville, Pink Lakes, Underbool, Mildura, Wentworth, Old Zanci Station, Mungo Woolshed, Walls of China, Grand Canyon, Vigar's Well, Perry Sandhills, Paddle Steamer through Lock 11 Mildura, Red Cliffs, Lake Hattah, Lake Victoria, Rufus River, The Riverland.
Coongie Lakes
(7 days) - $2500pp
Saturday June 2
Saturday June 16
Old Strzelecki Track, Innamincka, Coongie Lakes, Cmp LXV, Cameron Corner, Sturt NP, Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Loch Lilly and Quandong Stations, Burra.
Birdsville &
Innamincka
(9 days) -
$3300pp
Saturday July 14
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, Mungerannie, Birdsville,Innamincka, Cameron Corner, Sturt National Park, Tibooburra,Broken Hill, Old Pastoral route to Burra, Adelaide.
Birdsville & Windorah
(9 days) - $3300pp
Saturday August 4
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, Mungerannie, Birdsville, Betoota, Windorah, Quilpie, Toompine, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Bourke, Cobar, Broken Hill.
 Oratunga Track
(4 days) - $1525pp
Saturday August 25
This 4WD loop commences 10km east of Blinman, on the private property of Di and Ian Fargher. The track passes Nildottie Gap and on towards Patawarta Hill. The scenery changes from cypress pines to ancient eucalypts through the Artimore Valley, culminating on the summit of Mt Lucius (815m).
This is some of the best country the Flinders has to offer.
Includes Warraweena Conservation Park and the Old Angepena Goldfield Track, Parachilna Gorge, Brachina Gorge, Bunyeroo Valley, Hawker.
Flinders Ranges &
Skytrek
(4 days) -
$1475pp
Saturday September 1
Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound, Willow Springs Station, Skytrek, Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Blinman, Parachilna Gorge, Moralana Scenic Drive, Melrose, The Bridle Track. Port Germein, Laura, Orroroo, Burra, Eudunda, Kapunda.
Flinders Ranges &
Arkaroola
(5 days) -
$2025pp
Sunday September 9
Tuesday September 18
Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound, Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Blinman, Arkaroola, Ridgetop Tour, Nooldoonooldoona Waterhole, Gammon Ranges,
Moralana Scenic Drive.
Tumby Bay
and The Eyre
Peninsula
(5 days) $1595pp
Saturday October 13
Port Germein, Arno Bay, Port Neill,Trinity Haven Scenic Drive, Poonindie ,
Port Lincoln, Sleaford Bay, Whaler's Way, Tod Reservoir, Cummins, Mt Hope, Point Drummond, Greenly Beach, Dutton Bay, Coffin Bay, Koppio Museum.
Enjoy a Clydesdale Horse and trolley ride!
Return is via Horrock's Pass to Flinders Ranges, Orroroo and Burra.
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Thanks for your continued interest in Desert Sky Tours
Sincerely,
Howard Humby
Desert Sky Tours
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